[Grace]

Hello everyone, I have lurked here in the past and finally decided to post. I am usually on the AIP board and then was in the Oct 11 DDC (now the Oct 11 PR) but I wanted to get to know other moms who have large families.

I seen a couple familar names in here but anyways dh and I have been married for 5 years and I have four children from my previous marriage, I had a tubal ligation after my last child was born in 2004 and a reversal in 2010. Dh and I welcomed our first baby together in October of last year after 2 losses and secondary infertility. I am praying to add one more baby to our lives at some point, not sure when. Dh and I have talked about revisiting the subject in about 3 years, but lately I have been thinking that since I already have a large age gap between the baby and the next youngest (7 years) I don't want another big age gap.

Some thing I do wonder about though is, for those who have more than 6 children, what do you drive? We have looked at vehicles that are larger than what we have but it seems most only fit 5, then some fit 6.

How did you decide how many children you would have? For me it's kinda based on how I do with the c-sections. I already had 5 c-sections, but I heal very well and have very little scar tissue and was given the green light to ttc #6, but that one may be the last one, depending on how things look at that c-section. Given the option, I think 7 is a wonderful number...but I wont risk it if I was told not to. I guess I wonder if I will ever get the "im done" feeling, dh would be happy with our family size now, but he's also okay with 1 more later on. So now I have typed a novel, I look forward to getting know everyone and I hope my questions were okay to ask.

[UrbanMomma]

Hi, welcome!!!

I'm Jenifer, mom to almost 10, new baby is due in March. I have six boys, 17, 15, 13, 10, 4 and 3. Then my girls are 9, 5 and 20 months. This baby is predicted boy #7.

As far as driving, we are looking for either a 12 or 15 passenger van next month. We had a conversion van, but it hasn't really been big enough for awhile.

I never really decided how many kids to have, they just kinda happened...LOL

[MarieJ]

Welcome!
I'm Marie and I've "only" got five. We are done, had my tl with my c/s in July. I didn't feel done for a month afterwards, but now I'm SO DONE.

We drive a Dodge Caravan, and we own a 15pass van for bigger trips. I want a Suburban so we can fit 8 total plus pull our camping trailer

[pinupmama]

Hi! I haven't been very active (at all), but I'm Bettie and I've got six kids with number seven on the way, ages 16, 14, 8, 8, 6, and just shy of 1, number seven is due in October. We're a blendd family, I came in with three children, and DF came in with 2 (14, 8, and 8 are mine, they're twins, 16 and 6 are his), and then we had a baby together and are gonna have another!

I can't say I ever planned a big family. I had DD (my 14 y/o) when I was 15, I wasn't planning much of anything then. I met the twins' dad and fell into something I thought was love, and accidently got pregnant and had them at 19 (did not plan twins! was shocked when the doctor told me!). After they were born I figured I was done. Even when DF and I met and feel into real love and blended our family, I didn't think we'd have more. Then after DD was born last year, we both realized we aren't done. I think we could easily end up with 10+.

We drive a Yukon right now, but we've been looking at passanger vans (the big 15 ones), its either that or just buy a bus. I love my Yukon though, its a hybrid so it's not bad on gas and the kids think its cooler then a mini-van.

[~mommy~]

Hello and welcome. We have 6dc, 3 boys 10, 6& 4 and 3 girls 14, 2 and 8 months.
I drive a 98 ford 15 pass. van. The previous owner removed the first row bench seat so it technically only seats 12. It's really rough on fuel and you have to park way out, cause it doesn't really fit into 1 space. The price was right though and it works. I am very thankful to have it.

[MIL2lissy8]

hi grace ~~ i am terre, mom to 4 and noni to 7. i have a hyundai van that hold 4 carseats at the moment. i am over the 'mom car' thing now and want to pass on the van to my daughter and get a smaller car for me.

[Iluvmygirls]

Welcome!!!!!!!

I don't have any advice on the van we are still good with our regular one but will need to upgrade when we get to #6 or more lol

[Repti.Mom]

Welcome!
We have 6 kiddos and one on the way. We have an Odyssey right now, and we really don't go anywhere as a whole family so I plan on just letting the oldest sit in the front seat. 99% of the time he does already because we bring the neighbor girl home from school, so it's not a big change. Any more than this and there will have to be a 12 or 15 passenger in our future.

[#5in2005]

Just wanted to say welcome here

I "only" have 5 kids and I'm done done done. I guess I'm not the norm, but I knew my 5th was my last, and I felt done having babies, we just knew we were complete. No help, I know. And I don't have enough kids to have a giant van, but I do drive a Toyota Sienna that seats 8, and I love it.

[starsandstripes]

HI! I'm Nicole! We have 8 (4 girls and 4 boys) and one on the way in October We always knew we wanted a big family, but when we got married, had you of said " you will have 9 kids" we would have laughed. My husband and I both come from small families with one brother and he had one sister. Like I said, we always knew we wanted a big family, but I think we always thought we'd have about 4 or 5. We had our four girls and then decided we'd try ONE more time for a boy...got him and then we just couldn't envision the child rearing part of our lives to be over. We love EVERYTHING about having a big family. I "think" this is it for us (9), but I don't think we'll know for sure until after it comes. I think you just "know" when you are done and you know when you've reached your personal, emotional and financial limitations.

as far as what we drive....we had an expedition until number 6 came along and then it felt way too crammed, so we bought a 12 passenger. We still have that, but may upgrade to a 15 sometime in the next few years. For now, we really love our 12 passenger

[Momtothe6thpower]

I'm Cortney, sahm to 6, ages 13, 8, 6, 5, 3 and 9 months. (Man, my kids are getting old )

90% of the time I drive a mini van because dh isn't home most of the time. Our family vehicle is a 15 passenger van (that actually just seats 11). It's a beast and I don't like driving it around because I'm convinced I'm going to plow someone over sometime. I'd like to downgrade to a 12 or maybe even something that just seats 8. I'm pretty confident that our family is complete.

[Kristina]

Welcome I'm kristina SAHM to 8 five girlies ages 13, 12(in two days), 8, 6 and 4 and 3 boys 10, 2 and 15 months. I drive a 15 passenger van and I love it enough space for the kiddos to spread out and it limits the fighting and the screaming is far enough away that the radio can overcome it.